Did you know that 85% of working Americans absolutely hate going to work every day? If you’re one of these people, you most likely have dreams of opening your own business and being your own boss one day.
If your passion is wine, starting a winery is especially exciting to think about. The idea that your entire life could be centered around making and selling wine is too good to be true, though, right?
Wrong!
Starting a winery isn’t as complicated as you may believe.
Sure, there are a ton of things that you need to do in order to open up your own winery business. But if you know what to do, and what not to do, as well as posses a ton of patience, you can very much make your dream a reality.
In this article, we’ll give you a 6-step guide that you can follow to make your winery business dreams come true. Now then, let’s get started!
1. Write a Business Plan
Before you can start making and selling wine, or even purchase land, you need to write a business plan.
Remember, the blueprint for your business is quite important. So be sure to take your time and consider everything you’ll need to acquire and do before opening.
A pro tip? If at all possible, have someone involved in the wine business help you craft your business plan. Even if you know a great deal about wineries and feel confident in what you’re doing, a second or third voice in the room is always a good thing.
2. Create a Budget
Of course, every business needs a budget in order to be successful. And when you’re building from the ground up, that budget has to be spot on to prevent your business from stumbling and falling early on.
The best way to cover yourself is to overestimate the costs of everything you need and underestimate the funds you think you’ll have access to. Having a bit of wiggle room will allow you to handle any bumps in the road that are sure to come as time goes on.
3. Gather Your Funds
When starting a business, especially one with a lot of overhead, funding is extremely important. So, before you start making any purchases, you’re going to want to make sure you have your hands on all of your funds.
Any money you have saved up is useful, but you’re most likely going to need some loans, too. With that in mind, make sure you have your loans approved before you start spending that money.
Failure to do so can lead to you buying things that you can’t afford, which of course can sink your business before you ever get off the ground.
4. Acquire Licenses and Permits
If there’s one mistake that new business owners are prone to making, it’s not doing everything the legal and correct way. Failure to acquire the right licenses and permits before opening up can lead to a lot of trouble, which isn’t what any new business needs.
Sure, these licenses and permits can be quite pricey, which can affect your budget. But the fines are often more than the costs of the licenses and permits, making the decision to purchase them a no brainer.
Also, you never want to get off on the wrong foot with the people in charge of handing out fines. In fact, doing things the right way can help you establish a good relationship with those people, which can be helpful early on.
5. Start Your Branding Efforts
As a new business owner, getting your name out there is crucial to your early success. Your branding efforts need to start immediately, that way you can speed up that branding process and get your business off the ground faster.
Your name, for example, is quite important and should be chosen carefully. Making the most out of the internet, from websites for wineries to social media marketing, is also key to being successful in today’s day and age.
6. Listen and Be Patient
We get it.
You dream of being the proud owner of a large and successful winery. You don’t dream of all of the hard work that it takes to get there, which means you’re ready to get that part over with as fast as possible.
Unfortunately, like most things in life, it takes a lot of time to get a winery business started. Being patient throughout that process is important, as it can help you avoid making any major mistakes.
Also, as you grow, be sure to listen to the people around you, especially your customers and clients. Doing so will allow you to change as you grow in a positive way, better serving the people that keep your doors open.
Starting a Winery Business: Follow This Guide
Well, there you have it! A 6-step guide on starting a winery business yourself! So, using these ideas, you can turn your dreams of being a business owner into reality!
Remember, a blueprint is extremely important to the success of any new business. Take your time, don’t rush the process, and plan each and every move carefully.
Leave plenty of wiggle room in your budget and do things legally by acquiring all the right licenses and permits.
And once your business is open, start branding immediately. That way you can let everyone around you know that you exist, so you can start selling more products faster.
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